Staple setting die



1 I 0. J. HUELSTER 2,457,896

STAPLE SETTING DIE Filed Jan. 7, 1946 IN VEN TOR. I

4-7 V Otto J. Huelster Patented Jan. 4, 1949 STAPLE SETTING DIE Otto J.Huelster, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company,Waterbury, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 7,1946, Serial No. 639,498

11 Claims.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, whenv taken together with the accompanying.drawing, in which the separate parts are designated by suitablereference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing upper and lower dies of atool unit for accomplishing the desired result with said dies in spacedrelation and with a staple and button disposed between said dies, andpart of the construction being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the operation of the tools inattaching the staple and button to a support.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the lower portion of the anvil atright angles to the position shown in Fig. 1, the section being on theline 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of the anvil, as seen in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of upper dieand different type of fastener device.

In Fig. 1, I have shown at 10 the plunger of a press, in which a dieholder H is detachably mounted through the medium of a set screw [2 inaccordance with conventional practice, the screw i2 entering a taperedkey slot l3 in the shank M of the holder to retain the holder againstrotation and axial displacement. The holder II has an enlarged collarportion l5, below which is a reduced sleeve l B.

Upon the reduced sleeve [6 is driven or other- 1 wise secured acup-shaped housing l1, having a large diameter bore l8 fitting thesleeve l6 and a small diameter bore I9, in which is freely, but snugly,mounted an anvil 2B. The anvil 201 has a collar portion 2| fitting inthe bore 18 and adapted to normally seat upon the shoulder 22. Above thecollar 2| is a reduced shank 23 which fits snugly, but freely, in thebore 24 of the sleeve l6. Between the lower end of the sleeve I6 and thecollar 2| is an annular member 25, in which are freely arranged a seriesof bearing balls 26, that is to say, that the diameter of the balls isless than the distance between the lower end of the sleeve l6 and thecollar H to form a clearance, as at 21, when the anvil is in the normalposition, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In other words, when theanvil is actuated to turn or rivet over the prongs 28 of a staple 29, asseen in Fig. 2, the collar 2| is freely rotatable on the balls 26 toallow the anvil to turn, as later described. The clearance then shiftsto a position below the collar 2|, as seen at 21 in Fig. 2 of thedrawing. By providing the clearance, as at 27, the surface of the collaror flange 2! is maintained out of frictional engagement with theshoulder 22, thus allowing the anvil to rotate freely upon the balls.

The lower surface of the anvil has a halfround or cup-shaped recess 30divided centrally by a blade, rib or partition 3i, having a lowerbevelled knife edge 32, the curvature of which is eccentric to thecurvature of the recess 30, so as to provide a greater depth of theblade 3| centrally thereof than at the opposed ends of the blade, aswill clearly appear from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing.

By providing the greater depth to the blade 3| centrally thereof, theprongs are at all times maintained in their respective halves of therecess 30 to insure proper bending or heading of the prongs. In otherwords this deep rib maintains the staple legs divided at all times.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing is shown at 33 the lower die, which is suitablysupported on the table or bed plate of the machine. The die 33 has arecess 34 for supporting the staple 29, with the prongs 28 of the stapledirected upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown at 35 an open top buttonfor attachment to the staple 29. This button has an annular inwarddepression 36 in the bottom wall thereof forming an annular groove 31,into which the prongs 28 are adapted to pass. The open end of the buttonhas a radially extending annular enlargement 38 with an inturned edge39.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, I have shown at 40 a fabric or other support,to which the button 35 is attached by the staple, the attachment to thesupport having been made, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In the operation of attachment, the fabric 10 is suitably positionedbetween the staple 29 and button 35 and the punch is lowered, in whichoperation the anvil passes into the socket 4! of the button and thebutton is forced down onto the prongs 28 by the plunger actuated anvil20, the prongs piercing the annular depressed portion 36 of the buttonin this operation and then entering the recess or socket 353 of theanvil. If the prongs 28 should; be in alinement with the rib 3 l, thesharp knife edge of the rib will then divide the prongs, causing one tomove into one side of the anvil socket 30 and the other into the otherside and these prongs will, then, be turned or riveted over, as seen at32, in Fig. 2 of the draw-- ing. When the anvil 20 reaches itslowern'iostw position, as shown in Fig. 2, the annular and slightlyrounded peripheral end d3 thereefvwiili extend into a recess M in thesocket oi the but ton around the indenture 36. The anvil 20' freely inthe button 35 which allows free. separation after the attachingoperation has been performed, as seen in Fig- 2 of the drawing.

In stapling operations, as conventionally performed, it has beennecessary toline-up or orient staple prongs with an anvil or otherforming tool to insure proper operation and to prevent jamming. of theprongs. With my construction, the prongs are sub-divided by the rib. andit. is immaterial what position the staple. assumes on the lower die inperforming the desired operation.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, I haveshown a slight modification, wherein adie holder l5, similar to the die holder l5. of Fig. 1, is employed andthis holder is arranged in an. upper die [1, differing trom the die ilin the provision of an annular recess 45 in the lower surface thereofand around the mandrel Zll, this recess being provided to receive theupwardly extending. wall portions 46 of a stud member 41. The anvil 2Gis of the same structure as the anvil 20 of Fig. l. and, therefore, nofurther detail. description. thereof will be given. At 33 isshown thelower die, in which a staple 29, similar to the staple 29 of Fig. l, isadapted to seat; it represents the fabric or other support to which thestud M is attached, in crimping-over the staple prongs, as is shown at42. It will be apparent that by changing the structure of the dies, and,particularly, the upper die, staples may be secured to different. typesof fastener devices in mounting the same on. supports and, in allinstances, a sub-divided or partitioned anvil will be employed formaintaining the prongs of the staple in spaced relationship to eachother, or sub-divided in the crimping or turning-over operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, in the operation of turningthe pron-g ends, the anvil is free to rotate on its ball bearing supportin positioning the partition rib of the anvil socket between the prongsand, further, in guiding the prongs in their curved turned position, asclearly illustrated in- Figs. 2 and 6' of the drawing. The thrust istaken up directly upon the bearing balls which provides this free rotaryaction. and the anvil is otherwise free to turn in the. upper die, aswell as in, or on, the fastener device, which is being secured to asupport by a staple.

In considering the die structure, it may be said that this die structurecomprises a, forming tool, in which the mandrel or forming toolproperhas a mounting in the die for movement axially thereof in the inwardmovement of the forming tool against means forming an anti-frictionalthrust bearing, which provides for the free rotation of the tool in thedie holder which, in. the present construction, comprises the parts. IIand 1.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for stapling fastener devices to supports, a staple settingdie comprising a holder, an anvil, means on the anvil and holderproviding free rotation of the anvil about its axis in said holder, saidanvil having at its lower end a prong-turning socket, said socket havinga spherical surface, a rib dividing said socket centrally,

and said rib being adapted to space prongs of astaple in the socket atopposite sides thereof in theoperation of setting said prongs.

2. A- tool for stapling fastener devices to supports, a staple settingdie comprising a holder, an anvil, means on the anvil and holderproviding free rotation of the anvil about its axis in said holder, saidanvil having at its lower end a prong-turning socket, said socket havinga spherical surface, a rib dividing said socket. centrally, said. ribbeing adapted to space prongs of a staple in. the socket at oppositesides thereof in the operation of setting said prongs, and said ribhaving a lower knife. edge.

3. A tool for stapling fastener devices to supports, a staple settingdie comprising a holder, an anvil, means on the anvil and holder.providing free rotation of the anvil about its axis in said holder, saidanvil having at its lower end a prong-turningv socket, said sockethaving av spherical surface, a rib dividing said socket centrally, saidrib being adapted to space prongs of a staple inthe socket at opposite.sides thereof in the operation of setting said prongs,. said rib havinga lower knife edge, and said rib being of less depth than the socket andof greater depth centrally of. the socket than at. side portions of thesocket.

A tool for stapling fastener devices to supports, a staple setting diecomp-rising a holder, an anvil, means on the anvil and holder providingfree rotation of the anvil about its axis in said holder, said anvilhaving at its. lower end a prong turning socket, sa d socket having aspherical surface, a rib dividing said socket centrally, said rib beingadapted to space prongs of. a staple in the socket at opposite sidesthereof in the operation of setting said prongs, said rib having a lowerknife edge, said rib be ng of less depth than the socket and of greaterdepth crntrally of. the socket than at side portions of the socket, andthe end of the anvil bordering the socket being rounded.

5. A diev structure of the class described comprising a die holder, ananvil mounted in said holder, said anvil and holder having meansproviding free axial rotation and axial movement of the anvil in theholder, said means including a thrust bearing in said holder for takingupward thrust of said anvil in movement axially of the holder, saidanvil having at its lower face a central partitioned socket. and thepartition of said socket having a knife edge.

6. In tools for setting the prongs of a staple in attaching. the same toa support, a setting tool, said tool having a partitioned prong turningsocket in the surface thereof. and means for supporting said tool forfree axial rotation in turning and setting prongs of a staple engaged bysaid tool.

'7. In tools of the class described, an anvil comprisingv cylindricalend portions divided by an enlarged collar portion, a holder havingmeans guiding the cylindrical portions of the anvil for. movementaxially of said holder, means forming an anti-frictional thrust bearingin the holder above said collar to take up the thrust of the anvil inmovement axially of said holder, and the lower end portion of said anvilhaving a partitioned staple setting socket. I

8. In tools of the class described, an anvil comprising cylindrical endportions divided "by an enlarged collar portion, a holder having meansguiding the cylindrical portions of the anvil for movement axially ofsaid holder, means forming an anti-frictional thrust bearing in theholder above said collar to take up the thrust of the anvil in movementaxially of said holder, the lower end portion of said anvil having apartitioned staple setting socket, and the partition of said socketbeing of less depth than the socket and of greater depth centrally ofthe socket than at the periphery of the socket.

9. In tools of the class described, an anvil comprising cylindrical endportions divided by an enlarged collar portion, a holder having meansguiding the cylindrical portions of the anvil for movement axially ofsaid holder, means forming an anti-frictional thrust bearing in the.holder above said collar to take up the thrust of the anvil in movementaxially of said holder, the lower end portion of said anvil having apartitioned staple setting socket, and the holder around said anvilhaving a recess for reception of a device to which a staple is adaptedto be secured.

10. In tools of theclass described, an anvil mounted for rotation aboutits axis, the end of said anvil having a substantially semi-sphericalsocket divided by a central partition wall, said partition wallterminating its lower end in a relatively sharp bevelled edge formed onan arc of a radius greater than the radius of said socket, and saidanvil serving to upset attaching staple members unselectively fed to orset into the tool.

11. In tools of the class described, an anvil mounted for rotation aboutits axis, the end of said anvil having a substantially semi-sphericalsocket divided by a central partition wall, said partition wall havingits lower end oppositely bevelled into a relatively sharp knife edge,and being formed on an arc of a radius greater than the radius of saidsocket, and said anvil serving to upset attaching stapling membersunselectively fed to or set into the tool.

\ OTTO J. HUELSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,083,420 White Jan. 6, 19141,126,908 Stoeber Feb. 2, 1915 1,832,764 Carley Nov. 17, 1931 2,383,330Michael Aug. 21, 1945

